The Detroit Red Wings are set to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the tenth consecutive year, marking the seventh instance under General Manager Steve Yzerman’s tenure. Yzerman was brought in to rebuild the team into a contender, having previously excelled in drafting with the Tampa Bay Lightning before their championship success under a new GM.
Recent seasons have been particularly tough for the Red Wings. Despite a strong showing that had them on the cusp of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they ultimately missed out due to a tiebreaker disadvantage against the Washington Capitals. For a team that held first place in the Atlantic Division as late as January 25th, 2026, and subsequently failing to make the playoffs, the disappointment is palpable among fans and players alike.
The pressure on Steve Yzerman in Detroit is undoubtedly mounting. While reports suggest owner Chris Ilitch maintains loyalty to Yzerman, echoing his father Mike Ilitch’s approach, questions about Yzerman’s long-term future as general manager are inevitable.
At some point, the Red Wings must achieve playoff qualification. They have watched rivals like the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators make consecutive playoff appearances, and even the Buffalo Sabres ended their 14-year drought. The Red Wings now hold the league’s longest active playoff drought at ten years, having been surpassed in the standings by teams such as Ottawa, Philadelphia, Columbus, Boston, and Washington.
As discussed by Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Steve Yzerman’s fate with the Detroit Red Wings may ultimately hinge on his own desire to continue in the role.
Friedman remarked, “And we’re going to talk more about these teams in the next pod, as we get some time to process it. But if, I was shocked, I could only imagine what hardcore Red Wings fans are thinking. And to me, the first question is Yzerman. And, we joke about Yzerman on this pod about him, and how we’ve had our run-ins and things like that. But I have an enormous amount of respect for everything he’s accomplished in his life, and I have even more respect for the fact that he doesn’t need to do this.”
He continued, “And he grinds, Yzerman grinds, and he’s won everything that a player could win. He’s won gold medals as a, as an Olympic GM. He’s built the Lightning. He was gone before they started winning Cups, but he built them. He doesn’t need this, but he does it because he’s competitive as heck, and he tries to do it the right way.”
Friedman speculated on Yzerman’s internal thoughts: “And I’m just trying to put myself in his head, and a part of him has got to be saying, like, this is so disappointing. Why do I keep coming back and doing this? And to me, I’m wondering if that’s almost as big a decision as do the Red Wings want to make a change in that spot? And I don’t know, I just, I can’t see him. He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who would walk away from this. Particularly since it’s really shocking, but that unprotected number one pick. There’s still a chance Detroit could drop a bit here.”
He added, “You know that pick, if Detroit was to win the lottery, could be a pretty high pick, and it’s just, I don’t think anyone would have thought Detroit would be in that particular position. But how it’s all of a sudden you find yourself in that position. And people are like, ‘Okay, how did this happen?’ I think, to me, that the biggest question with him is, not so much, is he in trouble, but how does he feel about all this?”
“And I can’t imagine he’d want to walk away. We’ve discussed on this pod, does he kind of bump himself up and promote someone I don’t know? I just, I’ve been thinking about this a lot the past 24 hours, because I think that’s one of the big questions people are asking: is Yzerman in trouble?”
Friedman concluded, “To me, the more unanswered question is, does any part of him say, I’ve had enough of this? Because of how much he’s burning inside, this happened. He may not be playing, but he feels that disappointment as much as anybody does who’s wearing the jersey.”
Concerns have also been raised regarding some of Yzerman’s personnel decisions, including the trade of an unprotected first-round pick for Justin Faulk, potentially hindering the development of Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Additionally, poor March performance, injuries to Dylan Larkin, and a costly penalty by Patrick Kane against the Minnesota Wild have been cited as contributing factors to the Red Wings’ playoff ouster.
While many questions surround the team, the most significant one, even before a detailed roster analysis, pertains to Steve Yzerman’s future with the Detroit Red Wings.
English Translation and Paraphrasing:
What’s Next for Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings?
The Detroit Red Wings are facing their tenth consecutive season without a playoff appearance, which marks the seventh time this has occurred under General Manager Steve Yzerman. Yzerman was hired with the mandate to rebuild the team into a winner, a task he previously excelled at with the Tampa Bay Lightning through his draft selections, prior to their dominant era under GM Julien BriseBois.
The last couple of seasons have been particularly agonizing for the team. They were extremely close to making the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but missed out on a tiebreaker advantage that went to the Washington Capitals. For a team that led the Atlantic Division on January 25th, 2026, this playoff miss is a bitter pill to swallow for both the fans and the players.
Some Detroit Red Wings Players Reportedly Feel Steve Yzerman Is Too Lenient
Steve Yzerman must be feeling considerable pressure in Detroit. Although reports indicate that owner Chris Ilitch remains loyal to Yzerman, much like his father Mike Ilitch, scrutiny of Yzerman’s position as general manager is unavoidable.
It’s crucial for the Red Wings to qualify for the playoffs. Other teams, such as the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, have made the playoffs in consecutive years. The Buffalo Sabres, meanwhile, have ended their 14-year playoff drought. The Red Wings now hold the league’s longest such streak at ten years, having been overtaken in the standings by franchises like Ottawa, Philadelphia, Columbus, Boston, and Washington.
As NHL insider Elliotte Friedman discussed on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Steve Yzerman’s future with the Detroit Red Wings may depend on whether he still wishes to continue in his role.
Friedman stated, “We’ll delve deeper into these teams in the next episode as we have more time to process everything. I was surprised, and I can only imagine how dedicated Red Wings fans are feeling. My primary question concerns Yzerman. While we often joke about Yzerman on this podcast, and our past interactions, I have immense respect for his achievements and even more for the fact that he doesn’t need to be in this position.”
He elaborated, “Yzerman works tirelessly, a grind that has earned him every accolade as a player. He’s also secured Olympic gold medals as a GM and built the Lightning franchise – although he departed before their Stanley Cup victories, he laid the groundwork. He doesn’t need this role, but his intense competitiveness drives him to do it, and he aims to do it the right way.”
Steve Yzerman Needs to Be More Aggressive for the Detroit Red Wings’ Success
Friedman pondered Yzerman’s internal state: “I’m trying to see things from his perspective, and a part of him must be thinking, ‘This is so disappointing. Why do I keep coming back to this?’ For me, the bigger question is whether Yzerman himself is questioning his role, or if the Red Wings are considering a change. I find it hard to imagine him stepping down. He doesn’t seem like the type of person to walk away from a challenge, especially with the unexpected opportunity presented by that unprotected number one draft pick. There’s still a possibility Detroit could move down slightly in the draft order.”
“If Detroit were to win the lottery, that pick could be very high. It’s remarkable how they’ve found themselves in this situation. People are asking, ‘How did this happen?’ My biggest concern isn’t whether Yzerman is in trouble, but rather how he feels about the current circumstances.”
“I can’t fathom him wanting to walk away. We’ve discussed on this podcast the possibility of him moving into a different role or promoting someone else. I’ve spent a lot of time considering this in the last 24 hours because one of the main questions people are asking is: is Yzerman in trouble?”
NHL Rumors: Will the Detroit Red Wings Explore a General Manager Change?
Friedman suggested the more pressing question is: “Does any part of him feel like he’s had enough? Given the intensity he feels, this situation must be disheartening. While he’s not playing, he experiences the disappointment as acutely as any player on the roster.”
Criticism has also been directed at some of his signings and trades, notably the acquisition of Justin Faulk via an unprotected first-round pick, potentially at the expense of Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s development. Other factors contributing to the Red Wings’ demise include poor performance in March, injuries to Dylan Larkin, and a detrimental penalty by Patrick Kane against the Minnesota Wild, which effectively sealed their playoff fate.
Numerous questions exist, but before any roster evaluation, the primary concern is Steve Yzerman’s future with the Detroit Red Wings.
English Translation:
What Will Happen with Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings?
The Detroit Red Wings will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th consecutive year. This will be the seventh time under the leadership of General Manager Steve Yzerman. It’s worth remembering that Yzerman left the Tampa Bay Lightning to return to Detroit and build them into a winning team. He had a strong track record in drafting with the Lightning before they became a dominant force under new GM Julien BriseBois.
However, the past couple of seasons have been heartbreaking for a team that was on the verge of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs but ultimately missed out because they did not hold a tiebreaker advantage over the Washington Capitals. For a team that was in first place in the Atlantic Division on January 25th, 2026, missing the playoffs will not sit well with the fans, or the players.
Some Players on the Detroit Red Wings Feel Steve Yzerman is Too Patient
Steve Yzerman must be feeling the pressure in Detroit. While reports suggest that owner Chris Ilitch is not like Mike Ilitch and there is loyalty towards Yzerman, questions must be raised about Yzerman’s future as general manager.
At some point, the Red Wings have to make the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators have made the playoffs in consecutive years. Detroit has seen the Buffalo Sabres end their 14-year playoff drought. The Red Wings now hold the longest active drought at 10 years. Teams like Ottawa, Philadelphia, Columbus, Boston, and Washington have surpassed them in the standings.
As Elliotte Friedman discussed on the 32 Thoughts Podcast on Monday, the fate of Detroit Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman will come down to whether he still wants to be there.
Elliotte Friedman: “And we’re going to talk more about these teams in the next pod, as we get some time to process it. But if, I was shocked, I could only imagine what hardcore Red Wings fans are thinking. And to me, the first question is Yzerman. And, we joke about Yzerman on this pod about him, and how we’ve had our run-ins and things like that. But I have an enormous amount of respect for everything he’s accomplished in his life, and I have even more respect for the fact that he doesn’t need to do this.
And he grinds, Yzerman grinds, and he’s won everything that a player could win. He’s won gold medals as a, as an Olympic GM. He’s built the Lightning. He was gone before they started winning Cups, but he built them. He doesn’t need this, but he does it because he’s competitive as heck, and he tries to do it the right way.
Steve Yzerman Has To Be More Aggressive For Detroit Red Wings To Succeed
And I’m just trying to put myself in his head, and a part of him has got to be saying, like, this is so disappointing. Why do I keep coming back and doing this? And to me, I’m wondering if that’s almost as big a decision as do the Red Wings want to make a change in that spot? And I don’t know, I just, I can’t see him. He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who would walk away from this. Particularly since it’s really shocking, but that unprotected number one pick. There’s still a chance Detroit could drop a bit here.
You know that pick, if Detroit was to win the lottery, could be a pretty high pick, and it’s just, I don’t think anyone would have thought Detroit would be in that particular position. But how it’s all of a sudden you find yourself in that position. And people are like, ‘Okay, how did this happen?’ I think, to me, that the biggest question with him is, not so much, is he in trouble, but how does he feel about all this?
And I can’t imagine he’d want to walk away. We’ve discussed on this pod, does he kind of bump himself up and promote someone I don’t know? I just, I’ve been thinking about this a lot the past 24 hours, because I think that’s one of the big questions people are asking: is Yzerman in trouble?
NHL Rumors: Will the Detroit Red Wings Consider a General Manager Change?
To me, the more unanswered question is, does any part of him say, I’ve had enough of this? Because of how much he’s burning inside, this happened. He may not be playing, but he feels that disappointment as much as anybody does who’s wearing the jersey.
Questions have been raised about some of his signings and trades, especially giving up an unprotected first-round pick for Justin Faulk while blocking Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Not to mention poor records in March, Dylan Larkin’s injuries, and a dumb penalty by Patrick Kane against the Minnesota Wild that sealed the Red Wings’ fate.
There are a lot of questions, but the main one before dissecting the roster is Steve Yzerman’s future with the Detroit Red Wings.
